"The Cabin in the Woods": Speaking of Whedon, his fingerprints are all over this horror film mash-up. Fans of the genre will surely eat it up, then dissect it like crazy. Not exactly scary and most certainly a head-scratcher, the Drew Goddard-directed comedy thriller throws so many horror film references into the blender it's dizzying. To reveal much of the plot would spoil things. What's safe to say is that this horror homage with Hemsworth (again!) and Richard Jenkins twists and turns in unexpected directions as an attractive group of friends tangle with things that go bump in the night at a wicked little cabin. R.M.

"Think Like a Man": The adaptation of Steve Harvey's best-selling book is an unexpected surprise.

Advertisement

Funny, sweet and romantic, "Think Like a Man" (starring Taraji P. Henson, Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union, Jerry Ferrera, Meagan Good and Michael Ealy) is a welcome relief in this sea of action and comic films. Four women fed up with the dating game and their men, take matters into their own hands by following the "rules" set forth in Harvey's book. Kevin Hart, getting his Chris Rock on, steals the show. A.H.

"Battleship": Even though "Battleship" is loud, messy and derivative, it's more fun than you'd expect. And, for my box-office money, slightly better than "Men in Black 3." The "Transformers"-esque action flick finds cranky aliens taking on the Navy around the waters of Hawaii. The action sequences are overly jacked-up, but the screenplay is anchored around some high-fivin' surprises -- especially near the end. And just for the record, Taylor Kitsch ("Friday Night Lights") is in full command as the lead. Expect to laugh at it, and with it. A guilty pleasure R.M.

"Headhunters": It might take a little legwork to find this import from Norway, but you'll be more than happy if you make the effort. Based on a Jo Nesbo novel, the sexy and engrossing thriller co-stars "Games of Thrones" hunk Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Clas Greve, a dapper but lethal guy in possession of a valuable painting. That priceless artwork catches the opportunistic eye of Roger (Aksel Hennie, perfectly cast), a headhunter who just so happens to be a part-time art thief. Things quickly become complicated in what shapes up into one of the slickest, most stylish and satisfying thrillers of the year. Seek it out and you will not be disappointed. Warning: It is violent. R.M.

On DVD:

"The Secret World of Arrietty": Want something both you and the kids can watch? Look no further than this gorgeously illustrated animated import from Studio Ghibli ("Spirited Away," "Howl's Moving Castle"). A quiet, absolutely lovely adaptation of "The Borrowers." What a find. R.M.

"The Grey": Liam Neeson, in one of his most complex performances, battles existential angst along with a pack of metaphorical wolves in a gripping thriller that tracks an ill-fated team of survivors of an Alaskan plane crash. Director Joe Carnahan ("Narc") delivers an action film with real meat on its bones.R.M.

"The Woman in Black": Creepy and atmospheric, this taut old-school horror flick from the recently revived Hammer Studios finds Daniel Radcliffe transitioning nicely out of Harry Potter mode. He stars as a lawyer investigating ghoulish goings-on in a small town. Turn the lights off and get ready to cower under the covers. R.M.